Helpful information. Thanks for taking the time to spell out some of the types of things to expect...and it helps explain a few things I've had to deal with! -- Food suggestions are "key" even though I personally avoid soy unless it's fermented.

Seriously? I appreciate Becky Hand's earnest efforts here. But the fact remains that mature women are one of the very visible demographic populations who are most neglected in U.S. medical research. It's not like menopause is an unexpected or "unusual" "condition," and the medical and medical research communities KNOW this. There are things covered in this article which, in 2016, could, and should, have more definite data (which would come from research, if it existed!). But so much research has not been done, and that reality is a disservice and a disgrace, both to people - women and our communities & families - and to science and the medical community. All the encouragement, guessing, and common-sense ideas and suggestions are not enough either to cover-up or compensate for the neglect of women's health, by researchers, by Big Pharma, and, perhaps especially, by politicians whom many of us actually did elect! Where is the accountability, and when are WE going to demand it? Thanks!

I thought that when I turned 50 I had some of the things of menopause and I thought that was all I would have. But here lately I have had them come back. I have night sweats in the day also it dont matter what time a day. Im crying a lot like if someone looks at me I cry. My cravings have gotten worse I cant live with out chocolate. I gain weight easily I was over weight before but its getting worse

I am 49 and the Doctors have been telling me that I have been premenopaul for the last 9 years. I have gone thru just about everything on your list. except night sweats but it's not over with yet. I found out that I now have Endometriosis after some shots and a few months from now I will have a hysterectomy done. but they need to shrink the uterus first. that's what the shots are for. but the hot flashes are suppose to get worse with the shots (by the 2nd one) and the hysterectomy, and to be honest that scares me more then the surgery does. I have had 3 c-sections so they tell me that my recovery time will be longer. I found this article very interesting and helpful, thanks for the great advise. I wish all women who are going through this a calm, cool and happy journey. God Bless

AZURE-SKY

11/17/2011 2:36:13 PM

I am a breast cancer survivor, and my oncologist told me to avoid soy as much as possible. Its phyoestrogens can feed estrogen-receptor positive cancer cells, and can interfere with some breast cancer medications that block estrogen.

In addition, soy adversely affects thyroid function, so if you are hypothyroid, you should avoid soy as well.

But - as in all things, check with your doctor before adding soy or eliminating soy from your diet, because those decisions should be based on your individual situation.

By the way, chemo put me into menopause 13 years ago, at the age of 46. I survived menopause without the addition of any Hormone Replacement Therapy, or any over the counter menopause treatments - because many of the OTC products contain soy and/or black cohosh (which is also not good for breast cancer).

It wasn't the end of the world! I managed my hot flashes by dressing in layers,cutting back on caffeine and spicy foods, and keeping a bottle of ice water with me at all times. Taking a few sips of ice water minimizes the hot flashes & lessens their duration - without drugs. Caffeine & spicy foods can trigger hot flashes.

JEAN_W_1960

11/17/2011 11:22:27 AM

Thanks for the informative article and thanks especially for the tip off about soy and estrogen. I've been avoiding soy, though I love tofu, because of my concerns about estrogen, but it's good to have expert advice. I also avoid dairy products, though I love milk, cheese, etc . . ., because of estrogen concerns. Perimenopause has been a horrible experience. Recently I made the connection between eating poorly and killer periods. I cut back drastically on sugar and fat and wow, what a difference. I would have done that years ago if only I'd known how much difference it would make in how I feel. It's not easy, I really miss sugar, but it's worth it.

"Some women mourn it as the end of youth and fertility. Others welcome it as a time of freedom and new opportunities. " And some of us just think of it as an enormous pain in the arse. Actually, it's interesting that the article suggests looking to your mother's or grandmother's experience to see how you're likely to fare. My mother and grandmother would both periodically get the feeling -- beyond all logic and everything they knew to be so -- that their husbands were running around on them. The feelings would go away when their hormones subsided. I thought I was safe, having no romantic attachments -- until the day I found myself sitting at work so firmly convinced that something terrible had happened to my cat that I had to call home and have my roommate check on her! I've had it a couple of times since, usually around the same time I get hot flashes and/or mood swings.

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